UK Power Networks has confirmed a “world-first” trial of smart transformers will be explored with the firm set to install the technology within existing substations at Uckfield and New Romney in East Sussex.

Current± – along with its sister site Energy-Storage.news – is at Solar Media’s Energy Storage Summit 2023, finding out about the investment opportunities for storage, the growing flexibility markets, how storage can help tackle grid connection constraints and much more.

An electricity system developed by Electricity North West which could offer £1.2 billion in savings, was the sole awardee of Ofgem’s latest innovation assessment and has been recognised by the energy regulator as “exceptional.”

Wholesale gas price volatility caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, has cost the UK around £1,000 for each adult, the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) said.

An independent assessment by Energy Saving Trust has found that Passiv UK’s smart heat pump controls increase the space heating Coefficient of Performance (CoP) by 25% for hybrid heat pumps and 17% for standalone heat pumps.

By modelling typical Scottish homes, research commissioned by WWF and conducted by Cambridge Architectural Research found that air source heat pumps (ASHP) would be the “lowest cost and most versatile electric solution” for homes that currently use gas and oil boilers, reducing emissions by up to 90% annually.

The UK Government must set a “realistic budget and more sustainable prices” for renewable electricity in the upcoming Contracts for Difference (CfD) auction to prevent limited private investment in solar and wind generation, RenewableUK said.

In this week’s edition of Current± Price Watch – powered by Enact – we take a look at the caution suggested by the high T-1 Capacity Market clearing price, the changing face of nuclear in Britain and the saving seen by industrial participants in the ESO’s Demand Flexibility Service.

Following the closure of the observation window on 17 February, Cornwall Insight has confirmed its final prediction for the April Default Tariff cap for a typical household is £3,294 equivalent per year.

New data from the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) showed that 1.7 million households using prepayment meters in Britain redeemed their Energy Bills Support Scheme (EBSS) vouchers in January alone – 130,000 more than December 2022.